Evacuations were ordered Wednesday for isolated communities near a new, fast-moving wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles, as Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds ahead of possible rain over the weekend.
The Hughes Fire broke out late in the morning and quickly ravaged nine square kilometers of trees and brush, sending a huge plume of black smoke near Castaic Lake, about 65 kilometers north of the devastating Eaton fires and Palisades which have been burning for three weeks.
Exit ramps along Interstate 5, a major north-south artery, were closed as flames spread along hilltops and into rugged canyons. Crews on the ground and in air tankers attacked the wind-driven flames.
Meanwhile, to the south, authorities in Los Angeles prepared for potential rain, even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred areas of Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Windy weather is expected to last through Thursday.
“We’re going to see another round of critical fire conditions across Southern California,” Todd Hall of the National Weather Service said Wednesday morning.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order to accelerate cleanup efforts in burned areas and mitigate the environmental impacts of fire-related pollutants.
She ordered crews to remove vegetation, shore up hillsides, install barriers and reinforce roads ahead of possible weekend rains, which could create mud and debris flows.
“This is intended to prevent additional damage to areas already ravaged by fire and also to protect our watershed, beaches and ocean from toxic runoff,” Mayor Bass explained during a press conference.
“New challenges await us”
Los Angeles County supervisors also approved an emergency motion to install flood control infrastructure and remove sediment in fire-affected areas.
“While the fires have subsided, new challenges await us. Rain is forecast and the threat of mudslides and debris in our fire-affected communities is very real,” warned Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
Officials urged residents to review evacuation plans, prepare emergency kits and be on the lookout for fires and report them promptly.
Mme Bass also said winds could carry ash and advised citizens to protect themselves from toxic air. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the ashes could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful substances.
“Even brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” she said, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning.
-A 60 to 80 percent chance of a small amount of rain was forecast for Southern California beginning Saturday, with most areas likely receiving no more than 0.8 cm, according to Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the Bureau of the National Weather Service for Los Angeles.
However, up to an inch could fall during localized thunderstorms, which would be a worst-case scenario if that were enough to trigger debris flows over burned hillsides.
“But even if the rain does not materialize this time, it could be a good exercise for these communities, because it will be a threat that they will have to deal with for months or years,” Mr Kittell warned.
In 2018, Montecito, a town 80 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, was ravaged by landslides after torrential rain hit mountain slopes devastated by a massive forest fire. Twenty-three people died and hundreds of homes were damaged.
Fires under control
Critical fire warnings have been extended until 8 p.m. Thursday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
“Our concern is about the next fire, the next spark that will cause the next wildfire,” said David Acuna, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
Another concern was that the two major fires, the Palisades and Eaton blazes, could breach their containment lines as firefighters continue to monitor hot spots.
Fire trucks and water bombers allowed crews to quickly extinguish several small fires that broke out in Los Angeles and San Diego counties, authorities said.
Evacuation orders were lifted for the Friars Fire, which broke out near a San Diego mall, and partially for the Lilac Fire, which burned through dry brush after threatening some structures , announced Cal Fire.
Nearby crews fully contained the Pala Fire, another small fire. The Clay Fire in Riverside was 40% contained as of Tuesday evening and evacuation orders were lifted.
President Donald Trump, who criticized the wildfire response during his inauguration speech Monday, said he would travel to Los Angeles on Friday.
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